ATLANTA – Georgia State split Saturday's doubleheader with Charleston Southern at the GSU Baseball Complex, taking the opener 5-2 before falling 9-1 in the nightcap, which was called after seven innings due to rain.
With the split, the Panthers move to 10-7 on the season while Charleston Southern moves to 12-3.
Georgia State responded after dropping Friday's series opener with a strong pitching performance in the first game of the day. Brian Crooms improved to 3-0 on the season after tossing 7.0 innings and allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out four.
Charleston Southern struck first with two runs in the opening inning, but the Panthers answered immediately. John Beverley singled and later scored on an RBI double from Wills Maginnis. Georgia State tied the game moments later when Cole Griffith reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Maginnis to score.
The Panthers broke the tie in the sixth inning. Hunter Carlson was hit by a pitch, and Carter Bailey followed with a single before Cooper Milford worked a bases-loaded walk to bring in the go-ahead run. Adam Haber then delivered a two-run single to extend the lead to 5-2.
Jacob Crews closed out the victory, tossing two scoreless innings to earn his first save of the season.
Beverley and Bailey each recorded two hits in the opener while Haber drove in two runs.
Charleston Southern responded in the second game of the doubleheader. After three scoreless innings, the Buccaneers broke the game open in the fourth with a five-run inning before adding three more in the fifth and another in the sixth.
Georgia State's lone run came in the fifth inning when Lucas Grantham doubled and later scored on an RBI single from Austin Sellers.
Grantham led the Panthers offensively in the second game with two hits, while Sellers added two hits and the RBI.
The game was called following the bottom of the seventh inning due to rain.
The Panthers return to action on Tuesday, March 9th, hosting in-state rival Mercer at 6:00 p.m.
